Reptiles,
given difficulty in their detection due to cryptic nature, are less documented
than other classes of vertebrates. The first records dealing exclusively with
the reptiles found in and around Pune appear to have been written by Underwood
(1948) who reported 26 species, including 12 species of snakes. Since then there
have been few publications that have added to the list of reptiles found in the
city and its suburbs. Subsequently, Chopra (1964), Khaire & Khaire (1985)
and Ghatpande et al. (1990) added few records. Comprehensive review of snakes (Khaire,
& Khaire, 1993) reports 23 species, double that of the Underwood (1948).
Recently, Wadadekar has reported about a dozen species of snakes just from the
Pune University campus www.iucaa.ernet.in/~yogesh/snake.htmlhttp://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~yogesh/snake.shtml

Methodology

Our
list is based on first hand observations over the past ten years as well as
reliable oral information, besides literature. We have included species reported
from within a radius of 25 km from Pune centre. We have used relative encounter
rates of various reptiles across various habitat types were used as an abundance
index. Identifications were based on keys in Smith (1933, 1935, 1943).

Literature
revealed past occurrence of species. We also gathered perceptions of several
field experts, especially about ongoing population changes. Reptiles not seen by
us have been attributed to the individuals who recorded them. All reptiles found
by the authors were identified and released unharmed.

Results
and Discussion

We
report 52 reptilian species (annexure) from the area, about two third of which
are snakes. We report nearly report nearly thrice as many snake species as five
decades ago (Underwood, 1948) while one and half times the decade old record (Khaire
and Khaire, 1993). This increase in species richness is however cosmetic,
resulting neither from recent colonisation nor eco-restoration but only from
more intensified combing and accumulation of knowledge amongst naturalists.
Diversity reported by us is nearly twice that of Delhi while one and half times
that of Bangalore (Nalavade et al, this volume). The high diversity at Pune can
be primarily attributed to its mantle of rivers and hill chains that possibly
serve as corridors for the dispersal of even the Western Ghats specialists like
the shield tail snakes.

Table 1
depicts the distribution of species diversity across habitat types. Nearly three
fourth of the total species inhabit while a fifth are confined to the low impact
zone comprising of forest, scrub and grassland habitats. Above half the species
inhabit the high impact zone comprising of plantations, agriculture and
habitation, just two of them being exclusive. Forest is most species rich
habitat type, harbouring nearly two third of the total species, seven of them
being exclusive. Human habitation is most species poor, hosting just 8 species,
none being exclusively so. None of the high impact habitat types harbour any
exclusive species. Thus, habitat loss resulting from urbanisation poses threat
to nearly half the reptilian species. Mula-Mutha river bed is an excellent
foraging ground for snakes due to abundance of prey species such as rodents and
frogs. However, much of this fertile breeding ground is lost due to channel
walls and ongoing road along the riverbed, demolishing also crab holes that
shelter snakes. Similarly, encroachment of grassland and barren lands i.e. so
called wasteland along city fringes by urbanisation has affected species such as
Saw scaled viper. Habitat loss includes deforestation that especially affects
tree dwelling species such as Bamboo pit viper, Cat and Vine snakes. However,
habitat of grassland dwellers like Racer snakes is lost due to monoculture
plantations around Pune, especially on hillocks. Forest restoration along the
hill chain may theoretically benefit many reptile species. However, slum
dwellers and labourers if not the elite that frequent the hills variously kill
most of the snakes.

Besides
direct loss of habitat as above, habitat degradation also variously affects
reptiles. Excessive cattle grazing and concurrent fires hold threats for Racer
and Cat snakes, besides skinks. Tree snakes are affected by the fuelwood
collection rampant in the hills. Saw scaled vipers are susceptible to rock
excavation along hills, while soil extraction from riverbed and banks affects
shield tail and worm snakes. Keelback snakes seem susceptible to chemical water
pollution. Fertiliser and pesticidal effluents from agriculture affect the
breeding of most species therein while domestic chemical sprays threaten house
geckos. Wanton killing by humans out of fear psychosis threatens all snake
species, resulting in paucity of full grown specimens, entailing very limited
breeding population. Perhaps as many or more might be caught for venom
extraction. These are literally killed but effectively removed from the habitat,
affecting natural breeding population. Killing out of fear has ensured that
hardly any snake species is found abundantly. Killing out of superstitions
affects Chameleon the most. Turtle and monitor lizard are hunted for consumption
as food and for medicinal purpose.

To
conclude, we emphasise that notwithstanding the increase in the reported species
richness due to enhanced inventory, most reptiles are gradually declining in
numbers and face a bleak future. Possible corrective measures include
encouraging restoration of not just hill forests but also grasslands and rocky
areas from fringe villages as well as the restoring the riverbed ecology,
besides public awareness to minimise the fear-borne killing.

Acknowledgement

In the
first place, we are indebted to all the informants. Ashok Captain also helped in
manuscript prep. Drs. M. S. Pradhan and B. D. Bastawade from Zoological Survey
of India and Drs. H. V. Ghate, Anand Padhye, S. B. Nalavade provided valuable
literature and suggestions. Prakash Gole provided crucial suggestions in
manuscript prep. All colleagues from Kalpvriksh and friends like Kaustubh Moghe
provided a congenial working environment. Utkarsh Ghateís persuaded us no end.